Aspergillus sclerotiorum lipolytic activity and its application in bioremediation of high-fat dairy wastewater environments

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international 2023-03, Vol.30 (13), p.35517-35527
• Main Authors: de Moura Dickel, Jaíne Daiane, Carvalho, Jéssyca Ketterine, Silveira, Maruhen Amir Datsch, Menegotto dos Santos, Paulo, Rodrigues, Maria Luiza Fernandes, Fagundes-Klen, Marcia Regina, Rosa, Carlos Augusto, Johann, Susana, Buzanello, Cleide Viviane, da Silva de Lucca, Rosemeire Aparecida, de Oliveira Santos, Ana Raquel, da Rosa, Mauricio Ferreira
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aquatic Pollution; Aspergillus; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Biodegradation, Environmental; bioremediation; biotechnology; carboxylic ester hydrolases; class; dairy industry; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; enantioselectivity; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; fermentation; fungi; high fat dairy products; Lipase; lipolysis; Oils; regioselectivity; Research Article; species; sunflower seed; sustainable technology; Waste Water Technology; Wastewater; Water Management; Water Pollution Control
• ISSN: 1614-7499; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-24669-z

Oils and grease (O&G) have low affinity for water and represent a class of pollutants present in the dairy industry. Enzyme-mediated bioremediation using biocatalysts, such as lipases, has shown promising potential in biotechnology, as they are versatile catalysts with high enantioselectivity and regioselectivity and easy availability, being considered a clean technology (white biotechnology). Specially in the treatment of effluents from dairy industries, these enzymes are of particular importance as they specifically hydrolyze O&G. In this context, the objective of this work is to prospect filamentous fungi with the ability to synthesize lipases for application in a high-fat dairy wastewater environment. We identified and characterized the fungal species Aspergillus sclerotiorum as a good lipase producer. Specifically, we observed highest lipolytic activity (20.72 U g −1 ) after 96 h of fermentation using sunflower seed as substrate. The fungal solid fermented was used in the bioremediation in dairy effluent to reduce O&G. The experiment was done in kinetic from 24 to 168 h and reduced over 90% of the O&G present in the sample after 168 h. Collectively, our work demonstrated the efficiency and applicability of fungal fermented solids in bioremediation and how this process can contribute to a more sustainable wastewater pretreatment, reducing the generation of effluents produced by dairy industries.